Midland wins combined Graves/Swayze

Published 8:00 pm, Friday, April 27, 2007

The combined Midland High boys' and girls' track teams sailed through a strong mist Friday to run away with the inaugural Graves/Swayze Relays at Midland Stadium.

Midland won the meet with 183 points while Dow took second with 112 and Western was fourth with 96. The team score was a combination of both the boys' and girls' scores.

The relays this year have a new look to them. In the past, the relays have been two separate relays, but this year the events were combined into one meet.

Midland's Brenna Browne, who was involved in three winning relay teams, appreciated the new look.

"I love running with the boys' team," she said. "All the kids on the track team are some of my best friends. It's lots of fun."

Chemic boys' coach Marty Hollenbeck agreed.

"It was kind of fun to cheer for the ladies and vice versa," said Hollenbeck. "I think maybe we are starting a new tradition."

The Chemics started strong in the field events and never looked back as they rolled to the championship.

Laura Butler, Elena Vent-Schmidt and Catherine Cieslinski got the Chemics rolling with a first place in the high jump with a combined height of 14 feet, 1 inch while the team of Justin Brown, Mychael King and Andrew Grillo earned first place in the discus relay (382-11 1/2).

The Midland shot put relay team of Chris Petters/Pete House/Barnes/King combined for a winning distance of 190-4 and in the pole vault, the boys' team of Chris Wandor, Kevin Nehil and B.J. Ryder vaulted 35-0 to earn first place.

The Chemics girls and boys swept four races: the 100/110 meter hurdles, 3200 relay, middle distance relay and 300 hurdles. The girls' team of Butler, Cieslinski, Rachel Sugnet and Browne took the 100 hurdles while the boys' team of Jeff Brown, Ben Childs, Adam Landis and Vince Lefler won the 110 hurdle relay.

Abby Mott, Stephanie Seibert, Stephanie Lucas and Shea Hollenbeck won the girls' 3200 in 10:24 while the 3200 boys' team (Nathan Love/Steve Cope/Keith Beall/Bobby Butters) finished with a winning time of 8:32.80.

The middle distance boys' team (Love/Dan Dice/Justin Lampman/Cope) placed first with a time of 5:56.20 while the girls' team (Lucas/Seibert/Hollenbeck/Mott) finished first in 7:29.20.

"(Love and Cope) really carried the distance for us," stated Hollenbeck. "They battled. They had to run three tough races for us."

With a strong mist hampering most of the meet, the coaches were happy that there were no injuries.

Even though the Chemic girls were minus seven athletes due to school sponsored functions, their depth came through.

"Seibert turned in an anchor due to some of the people we were missing," stated Chemic girls' coach Diane Sugnet. "Ashley Lang did a great job stepping it up, but basically it was a team effort.

"Brenna Browne had to sub in the 4x200 and did a great job," added Sugnet.

The Dow High boys earned both of the Chargers' first places on the night. The shot put relay team of Darian Parmele/Chad Archer/Karl Asher/Jon Kurbel finished with a time of 47.4 and the sprint medley team (Dominique Endline/Kyle Partlo/Emanuel Parmele/Darian Parmele) placed first in 1:39.2.

Bay City Western placed first in both the girls' and boys' 6400 relay. The scoring was done in cross country style. Instead of times, each school added up where its runners finished and the school with the lowest total won.

The Western girls started the meet strong with two victories in the field events. Kaitlyn Slater/Abby McCue/Courtney Alexander teamed up to give the Warriors a first place finish in the discus with a total distance of 274-2.

In the shot put, Alexander/Maggie Keeler/McCue/Amber Curphy won for Western with combined throws of 122-5.

The Warriors' boys' team of Jon Hurrell/Pablo Ruiz/Evan Toyzan/Alex Bladecki finished with 25 points and the girls' team of Francie Phillips/Maeling Groya/Kendra Ouillette/Kate Reder placed first with 22 points.

Western won the last event, "The Coach Carter Coed Relay." The relay consists of a boy and a girl each running a 1600 and one boy and one girl each running an 800. The Western team of Phillps/Mike Leonard/Reder/Ruiz won.

Madill enjoyed the new format to the relays.

"I liked (the new format)," stated Madill. "The reason I like it was this is more of a depth type of meet and it gives some of my kids a little bit more chance to rest between some of the events."

Coach Sugnet agreed.

"I enjoyed it," mentioned Sugnet. "I had fun. It is nice because you have the girls cheering for the guys and vice versa."

When asked if the meet would continue in the same format next year, Sugnet said it would, but probably with some changes.

"The initial plan is yes," said Sugnet. "We are going to go with it. But we are always looking to see some changes."

Deike thought that some changes would be healthy.

"I liked the combined meet," said Deike. "If they want to attract other teams they may want to add a couple of open events like an open mile or 100."

Dow returns to action Tuesday when it visits Bay City Western, and Midland visits Bay City Central the same day.